Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology - SIMTech

As Incavo transitions into Industry 5.0, the leading semiconductor test product design and manufacturing company is focused on future-proofing its Singapore operations in the digital age and sustainability space. Recognising the pivotal role of upskilling their human capital, Incavo sent their key leadership for SIMTech's Operations Management & Innovation™ (OMNI™) Programme. 🚀

Leveraging the OMNI™ methodology, Incavo has successfully aligned its strategic plans with its business goals, uncovering digital transformation and sustainability opportunities across shopfloor, enterprise and supply chain processes. This includes the strategic rearrangement of its production line in a cellular form to reduce operator fatigue and enhance efficiency 💪 The adoption of Digital Workflow Automation and a Logistics Tracking and Planning System has led to improved data accuracy, traceability, environment sustainability and sustainable inventory management 📊

Learn more about how SIMTech’s OMNI™ programme empowered Incavo's transition to Industry 5.0! 💡

Towards Industry 5.0 Find out more about SIMTech Manufacturing Matters.

We are pleased to announce that SIMTech at CleanTech 2B (SIMTech@CT2B), located within the Jurong Innovation District, has attained the BCA Green Mark for Healthier Workplaces and Laboratories in September 2023! ✨

Relocated from Valley Block, Nanyang Technological University, to the Jurong Innovation District in 2023, SIMTech@CT2B is planned, designed and constructed with green and sustainability elements to meet the growing demands for a more environmentally responsible future. 🌏💚

Examples of the green features of SIMTech@CT2B include:
-100% WELS excellent water fittings
-100% LED lighting with occupancy sensors
-Effective lighting zones, acoustic design and laboratory safety for spatial quality
-NEWater for non-potable usage
-Energy efficient water cooled chiller plant system to optimise laboratory area energy efficiencies
-Ergonomic workstations, height-adjustable chairs and tables as an alternative meeting strategy
-Office design with effective daylighting whilst minimising heat gain and visual discomfort
-Green and health-related activities and policies for employee wellness

SIMTech is committed to continuously improving our environmental performance, promoting environmental awareness and responsibility among our employees, and assuring the environmental integrity of our processes and facilities. 🌱

Aluminium alloys, known for their remarkable strength and lightweight resilience, are a go-to choice for aircraft components. However, when manufactured using selective laser melting (SLM), a method akin to 3D printing which allows for the fabrication of intricate metallic components with complex geometries, specific alloys like Al7000 often exhibit signs of cracking, posing a risk to overall strength and durability.

In collaboration with researchers from China and Germany, Dr Sharon Nai, Senior Principal Scientist and R&D Director at SIMTech, led a team in the development of a new Al7000 alloy variant compatible with SLM. Incorporating elements like scandium and zirconium into the Al7000 alloy, the team successfully enhanced the alloy’s microstructure, minimising the risk of cracking and bolstering its mechanical strength.

Read on for more on how this breakthrough is revolutionising the use of advanced manufacturing technologies in aerospace engineering! ✈️✨

Crack-resistant alloys take off A new ultra-strong, ductile aluminium alloy overcomes the long-standing problem of cracking, opening up new possibilities for 3D printing high-strength aluminium aerospace components.

SIMTech congratulates all the graduands of our 12th SIMTech-ARTC-SkillsFuture Singapore Graduation Ceremony 2023! 🎓🎉

This annual event, organised by SIMTech, the Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre (ARTC) and SkillsFuture SG, celebrates the accomplishments of individuals who have successfully completed the various workforce training programmes conducted through the A*STAR SIMTech & ARTC - Knowledge Transfer Office. We were honoured to have Mr Kok Yam Tan, Chief Executive of SkillsFuture SG, grace the occasion as guest-of-honour!

Our heartfelt thanks to SkillsFuture SG for their continuous support in developing the human capital of Singapore's manufacturing industry. This year, we are proud to recognise the following awardees:

Most Inspiring Trainee Award:
- Mr Gee Suan Yeo, Turntech Precision (Winner & Valedictorian)
- Mr Choon Poh Looi, UTAC (Winner & Valedictorian)
- Mr Lim Hock lock, Hwee Jan Pte Ltd (1st Runner-Up)
- Mr Fong K*m Piew, Singapore Institute of Technology (2nd Runner-Up)

Best Industry Partner Award:
- OMS Oilfield Services
- Stellar Lifestyle
- Tru-Marine

We look forward to continuing joint efforts in developing Singapore’s workforce for our local enterprises and manufacturing industry!

SIMTech scientists collaborated with NTU Singapore and the University of Cambridge to pioneer a groundbreaking method in additive manufacturing! 🛠️🔬

Published in Nature Communications, the research outcome from SIMTech PhD student (Dr Gao Shubo) with SIMTech scientists (Dr Seet Hang Li and Dr Hu Zhiheng) unveils a unique process enabling customised metal parts with varied properties. Think stronger regions where needed and added features like diverse electrical conductivity! 🌟

Inspired by traditional blacksmithing, the team blended materials science with mechanical engineering, a significant R&D breakthrough for additive manufacturing. Prof Gao Huajian from NTU, who co-led this research shared, "This opens the way for high-performance metal parts with fine-tuned microstructures." 💡 Read the full article here: https://www.metal-am.com/new-method-to-additively-manufacture-components-with-multiple-different-properties/ 📖

New method to additively manufacture components with different properties Scientists have developed a new method for creating customised additively manufactured metal parts containing different properties.

Today we are thrilled to announce a milestone collaboration between SIMTech and ST Engineering Land Systems (STELS)! This partnership is a pivotal moment in our shared journey towards leveraging advanced manufacturing technologies for the progression of Singapore’s capabilities in land defence systems.

In line with SIMTech’s commitment to human capital development, advanced manufacturing training programs will be developed to upskill the talent of STELS, facilitating their deployment of advanced technologies, and contributing to the expansion of STELS' international defence footprint. This collaboration also extends to R&D in digital transformation, aiming to optimise STELS’ workflows and processes, supporting its long-term strategic business objectives.

SIMTech looks forward to working even more closely to build a more advanced and innovative future for STELS and Singapore’s manufacturing industry!

Proterial Asia Pacific (PRAP) has introduced the Admuster L61P, an Aluminium 6000 series alloy powder for additive manufacturing, developed in collaboration with SIMTech! Designed to address the limitations of the Al6061 alloy, a commonly used aluminium material in the aerospace, automotive and semiconductor industries, the new Admuster L61P aluminium alloy powder showcases superior strength characteristics, mitigating micro-cracks that hindered the use of Al6061 in additive manufacturing.

Read on for more about how this development is set to benefit industries that require lightweight and high-performance aluminium alloys!

Proterial unveils Admuster L61P powder for Additive Manufacturing Proterial, Ltd has introduced its newest Aluminium 6000 (Al6000) series alloy powder. Marketed as Admuster L61P.

Last week, SIMTech and the Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre (ARTC) had the privilege of hosting a distinguished delegation from Germany 🇩🇪, including Dr. Jens Brandenburg, Parliamentary State Secretary to the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Norbert Dr. Riedel, German Ambassador to Singapore, and Prof Angela Ittel, President of TU9 – German Universities of Technology and Technische Universität Braunschweig (TUBS).

We celebrated the inauguration of TUBS's first international research presence in Singapore, a significant milestone in strengthening the collaboration between our institutions. With the establishment of a physical satellite office at SIMTech, where researchers from both institutions can work together, we aim to foster stronger ties in research and innovation, further expanding our joint efforts in areas such as Industry 5.0, smart manufacturing and urban factories, industrial symbiosis, and battery remanufacturing.

The visit also saw a tour of SIMTech's Model Factory, a facility that enables companies to learn, experiment and co-create new technologies for factories of the future, providing our guests with a firsthand look at the latest in autonomous manufacturing. The delegation was also introduced to the Industrial Symbiosis and Sustainability Research as well as the EV Battery Remanufacturing Line at ARTC.

We look forward to continuing close collaboration as SIMTech, ARTC and TUBS work together to shape the future of manufacturing and innovation! 🤝

Congratulations to the outstanding winners of the annual T-Up Awards at SME Tech Day 2023! 🎉

🏆 T-Up Excellence Award:
We are proud to announce that Dr Marcin Debowski, a Senior Research Engineer from SIMTech, who was seconded to Matwerkz Technologies, was recognised through the T-Up Excellence Award! Dr Debowski's remarkable contributions have positively impacted the SME ecosystem in the development of innovative, marketable products and improvement of R&D capabilities of companies.

🏆 T-Up Emerging Talent Award:
Senior Research Engineers from SIMTech, Bing Yang Lee and Jiang Ting Ying, have been recognised for their exceptional contributions during their secondments to Fidel Engineering and Trading and Phaos Technology respectively. This award recognises the potential of secondees to meet industry needs and help local enterprises grow - congratulations to both of them!

🏆 T-Up Eagles Award:
This award celebrates promising student innovators from the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), who excelled during their local enterprise work attachments under the T-Up/Integrated Work Study Programme (IWSP) partnership. Among the winners are Melvin Poh Jun Wei and Bryann Low Ee Ray, who were mentored by SIMTech's Bing Yang Lee and Jiang Ting Ying respectively.

Kudos to our winners for their outstanding contributions to local SMEs and continued dedication to innovation and growth!

Congratulations to Team AMPM - Tan Chia Yeow and Joseph Tan for their outstanding achievement as one of the winners! 🎉

The 1KG Challenge, organised by NAMIC Singapore and ExtraBold, calls for participants to design and develop sustainable 3D-printed models weighing up to 1kg. This challenge aims to promote the use of additive manufacturing (AM) for innovative sustainable designs, in line with Singapore's vision for a greener future.

Team AMPM’s winning entry, the Internal Channel Coolant Drill, drew inspiration from their learnings in Modules 1 & 2 of SIMTech’s WSQ Additive Manufacturing course. Their design showcases a fusion of intricate geometry and advanced cooling technology, demonstrating the potential of AM in creating complex and functional designs difficult to achieve with conventional manufacturing methods.

The team’s innovative approach not only highlights the capabilities of AM but also aligns with the industry’s priority of sustainability, and paving the way for a more sustainable future of manufacturing. Well done, Chia Yeow and Joseph! 👏